Colyton Foundation

Who we are

The Colyton Foundation is a school-centred charity working to create a South West where background is no barrier to opportunity.

The Foundation was established by the staff and trustees of Colyton Grammar School in response to a persistent challenge in the South West: too many high-potential young people from under-resourced backgrounds do not fulfil their academic potential, and too few progress to higher education and professional careers.

We believe this is not the result of a lack of talent, but a lack of opportunity infrastructure: the networks, relationships, experiences, knowledge and support that enable young people to turn ability into achievement. We work collaboratively with partners to build that infrastructure across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

We champion high attainment for under-resoruced young people by providing targeted, long-term support that helps young people sustain high achievement and aspire confidently to ambitious futures. Through programmes such as Your Future Story, pupils gain access to mentoring, enrichment, family engagement, university experiences and employer networks that are often harder to reach in rural and coastal communities.

We forge powerful partnerships between schools, multi-academy trusts, universities, employers, charities and communities. We recognise that no single organisation can build opportunity alone. By bringing together expertise, resources and influence, we create the coalitions needed to address barriers that schools cannot tackle in isolation.

We stand up for the South West, shining a light on the hidden and dispersed disadvantage experienced by many rural and coastal communities. We advocate for greater recognition of the region's challenges and opportunities, ensuring that the voices of pupils, families and schools are heard in national conversations about education, disadvantage and social mobility.

We build school capacity for excellence by equipping teachers and school leaders with the expertise, tools and confidence to identify, challenge and support high-potential pupils. Through programmes such as Leading High Attainment and collaborative school-improvement partnerships, we help schools strengthen provision for their most able learners and create cultures where excellence is expected and achieved.

By 2035, we aim to double the progression rate of under-resourced young people from the South West to top-third universities. More fundamentally, we want to leave behind a stronger regional opportunity infrastructure: one in which talent is no longer constrained by family circumstances, geography or access to networks, and where every young person can see a clear pathway to fulfil their potential.

Our culture and values

We are an ambitious and growing charity, united by a clear sense of purpose. Our work is:

Collaborative – We believe lasting change comes from bringing together the knowledge, relationships and resources of schools, universities, employers, charities, young people and families.

Rigorous – We use evidence to understand the barriers facing young people, design our programmes carefully and evaluate their impact. We are interested in results, learning and continual improvement.

Bold and persistent – The inequalities facing young people in the South West are longstanding and complex. We set ambitious goals and are prepared to work over the long term to achieve them.

Innovative – We seek out successful ideas from across the country and beyond, adapting them thoughtfully to the distinctive rural and coastal context of the South West.

Honest and respectful – We communicate clearly, listen carefully and value the expertise and experience of the people and organisations with whom we work.

We value colleagues who are curious, practical, generous with their expertise and prepared to take ownership. We combine energy and ambition with warmth, humility and close attention to delivery.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

The Colyton Foundation is committed to equality of opportunity and to building a diverse and inclusive organisation. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, particularly those who bring insight into educational disadvantage and the rural and coastal communities we serve.

We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and able to contribute fully. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by equality legislation.

Selection decisions are made solely on the basis of merit, skills, experience and the requirements of the role. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible and will make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants at any stage of the recruitment process.

As an organisation working to expand opportunity for young people across the South West, we recognise the impact of socio-economic disadvantage, geography and educational isolation, and we strive to ensure that inclusion, fairness and belonging are reflected throughout our work.